Nastia Liukin

Lore & Background

Liukin was born in Moscow to two former Soviet champion gymnasts: Valeri Liukin and Anna Kotchneva. Her family emigrated to the United States when she was two and a half, settling first in New Orleans before moving to Texas. She began gymnastics at age three, often in the gym with her coaching parents. She graduated from Spring Creek Academy in 2007 and later studied at Southern Methodist University and New York University, graduating in 2016.

Liukin's junior career included winning the U.S. junior national championships in 2003 and 2004. As a senior, she won the U.S. all-around title in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, and added world gold on uneven bars and balance beam in 2005. After an ankle injury in 2006, she returned to win the world balance beam title again in 2007. At the 2008 Olympics, she became the all-around champion and earned five total medals.

In 2011, Liukin announced a comeback attempt for the 2012 Olympics but did not make the team and retired on July 2, 2012. Since 2010, she has hosted the Nastia Liukin Cup, worked as a gymnastics commentator for NBC Sports, and appeared on season 20 of Dancing with the Stars. She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2018 and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2019.

Reader's Guide

Nastia Liukin's significance lies in her achievements as one of the most decorated American gymnasts. With nine World Championships medals, seven individual, she is tied with Shannon Miller for the third-highest tally among U.S. gymnasts. She also tied Miller's record for most medals by an American in a single non-boycotted Olympic Games, a record later equaled by Simone Biles. Her 2008 Olympic all-around gold medal marked a peak in a career defined by technical excellence on uneven bars and balance beam. Beyond competition, Liukin has contributed to the sport as a host of the Nastia Liukin Cup, a commentator for NBC Sports, and a Hall of Fame inductee. Her legacy includes inspiring younger gymnasts and maintaining a prominent role in gymnastics culture after retirement.

Did You Know?

• Liukin is the only child of two former Soviet champion gymnasts: Valeri Liukin and Anna Kotchneva.
• She was ten months too young to compete as a senior in 2004 and thus ineligible for the 2004 Olympics.
• Liukin hosted the Nastia Liukin Cup, an annual competition for top Level 10 gymnasts, starting in 2010.
• She graduated from New York University in May 2016 with a degree in sports management and psychology.